Security has been beefed up in parts of south and central Kashmir a day before annual Amarnath pilgrimage takes off simultaneously from Baltal in Sonamarg and Chandanwari in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The first batch of pilgrims arrived in Kashmir valley on Wednesday afternoon to begin the yatra scheduled for 40 days this year. The pilgrimage begins at a time when security situation has worsened in the region especially in south Kashmir.
The authorities have made multi-layered security arrangements to ensure smooth passage of pilgrims from sensitive areas. The areas would be dominated by Army, Central Reserve Police force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Jammu & Kashmir Police, from lakhanpur. The yatra would conclude on August 7, coinciding with shravan purnima. All the concerned security and Intelligence agencies have been asked to enforce sustained watch and maintain effective co-ordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Tens of thousands of devotees are expected to pay obeisance at the holy cave shrine this year situated in the Himalayan mountain range nearly 14,000 feet above the sea level in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The cave houses an ice stalagmite that forms naturally.
Amidst chanting of Vedic Mantras the first batch of 2,280 pilgrims including 422 women travelling in 72 vehicles entered the Kashmir valley safely for overnight stay at the base camps.
The separatists have welcomed the pilgrims and sought to allay apprehensions on their safety. Veteran separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has already welcomed the arrival of pilgrims and described them as guests of the people in the valley. He said nobody would harm or obstruct the performance of their religious duties.
This year 2.12 lakh pilgrims have registered for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine.